System and method for detection of analytes in exhaled breath

Abstract

A device, system, and methods are disclosed for detecting the presence or determining a quantitative amount of at least one drug substance from exhaled breath of a subject in-situ. A collecting surface has a Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS)-active layer that comprises at least one SERS-active material. The collecting surface is arranged as an outer surface of a waveguide for contact with exhaled breath, such that at least traces of said at least one drug substance in said exhaled breath can contact said SERS-active layer for read-out of a Raman shift spectrum that is detected in-situ for said detecting the presence or determining the quantitative amount of said at least one drug substance from said exhaled breath.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of recovering exhaled nonvolatile drug compounds from a filter, comprising:
 providing said filter comprising an exhaled aerosol comprising said nonvolatile drug compounds; 
 eluting said nonvolatile compounds from said filter with an organic solvent to form a sample; 
 evaporating at least a portion of said sample on a SERS-active surface; 
 recording at least one SERS-spectrum of said evaporated portion of said sample using SERS-technique. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , performing an analysis of the content in said sample from said at least one recorded SERS-spectrum. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , comprising identifying said nonvolatile drug compounds from said SERS-spectra using a multivariate data model. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 2 , performing an analysis of the content in said sample from said at least one recorded SERS-spectrum. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , comprising facilitating analysis by modifying said SERS-active surface to be selective towards certain drug compounds. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 5 , comprising mixing a polymeric layer with nanoparticles to obtain a SERS-active surface. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said SERS-active surface is possessing suitable physiochemical properties for diffusion certain class of drug compounds. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 5 , comprising adding a permeable layer selected from a group comprising silicone polymers, silica or silicone-elastomers to said SERS-active surface. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said added layer is covering, coating or encapsulating said SERS-active surface. 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 6 , comprising adding a permeable layer selected from a group comprising silicone polymers, silica or silicone-elastomers to said SERS-active surface. 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 5 , comprising mixing of at least one SERS-active material and at least one material selected from a group comprising silicone elastomers, silicone polymers or silica to form said SERS-active surface. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 6 , comprising mixing of at least one SERS-active material and at least one material selected from a group comprising silicone elastomers, silicone polymers or silica to form said SERS-active surface. 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 1 , comprising adding pure deionized water to the sample. 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein detectable nonvolatile drug compounds is included in the list comprising: Amphetamines, ecstasy, Cannabis (THC and cannabinoids), Opiates heroin/morphine, 6-AM), Cocaine, Benzodiazepines, Propoxyphene, Methadone, Buprenorphine, Tramadol, LSD, Designer/Internet drugs, Kathinon, GHB, Meprobamat, Z-drugs, Tryptamines and Anabolic steroids. 
     
     
       15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a computer program configured for said recording at least one SERS-spectrum according to  claim 1  and said performing an analysis according to  claim 2 , wherein said computer program comprises code segments for:
 recording at least one SERS-spectrum according to  claim 1 ; 
 analyzing said at least one SERS spectrum according to  claim 2 ; and 
 reporting a presence or determining a quantitative amount of nonvolatile drug compounds, in said exhaled breath sample. 
 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , further comprising a code segment for identifying said nonvolatile drug compounds from said at least one SERS-spectrum using a multivariate data model. 
     
     
       17. A method of detecting a nonvolatile drug compound present in exhaled breath, the exhaled breath being absorbed on a filter, the method comprising:
 eluting said nonvolatile drug compound from said filter with an organic solvent to form a sample; 
 evaporating at least a portion of said sample on a SERS-active surface; 
 recording at least one SERS-spectrum of said evaporated portion of said sample using SERS-technique. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of according to  claim 17 , further comprising capturing an exhaled aerosol from the exhaled breath in said filter. 
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising a subject exhaling into said filter.